Need For Qualified Workers- A Shop Owner’s View

The industry today is a buzz with the need for qualified workers. Low cost energy here in the United States combined with our ability to manufacture some of the highest quality products in the world are creating a bit of a “perfect storm”.

This perfect storm of economic conditions is leading to a second industrial revolution in this country.

We are seeing a resurgence of many of the industries that only a few years ago were leaving the US in droves.

This is not my father’s (or his father’s ) Industrial Revolution!

My father sharpened his own tools by hand on a bench grinder by eye.

He made fine adjustments on production equipment with a wrench and the tap of a ballpeen hammer.

He used “Speedi Dri” to soak up the oil that no matter how hard he tried could not seem to be contained to the machine.

Today we have a high tech industrial revolution!

Digital and optical technologies are routine, as is the use of trig and geometry every day.

All this in an environment that is closer to a climate controlled laboratory than the shops of the last century.

@ Key questions:

How do we train the worker of tomorrow to be successful in manufacturing in the 21st century?

Equally important, how do we re-train today’s workers to meet the needs of manufacturing in America today?

While I am unable to offer a perfect solution to these issues, our company, North Easton Machine, is doing our part to hire the long term unemployed and re-train them for a rewarding career in the field of manufacturing. Our company was just awarded a “Hiring Incentive Training Grant.” We have confidence in the future of North American Manufacturing, just as my father did years ago. We are working diligently to make it happen.

What can you do to help meet the challenges that we as North American Manufacturers face today?

Welcome to our blog, Speaking of Precision. As Director of Technology and Industry Research for PMPA, I bring 38 years of hands-on experience in areas of manufacturing, quality and steelmaking. I help answer "HOW?","WITH WHAT?" and "REALLY?"